Syrian Revolution News Round-up- Tuesday, 15 May 2012 - Part 2

 Assad Commits a Massacre in Khan Sheikhoun and Hezbollah Units Occupy Border-Villages


UN observers vehicle damaged by regime shelling in Khan Sheikhoun, Idlib

Summary of Events

Hezbollah units marched into Syrian territory and invaded the villages of Safsafa, Masriya, Swadiya, Zeeta, and Matraba around the city of Qasir in the province of Homs. They arrested more than 70 Syrians and set up checkpoints assisted by Assad regime forces. Hezbollah also raided parts of the villages of Nizariya and Zira’a and the city of Qasir under the cover of heavy fire and shelling, and burnt many houses.

UN observers travelled to the city of Kafarzeita in the province of Hama and left immediately without even entering the city. Another observers’ convoy visited the city of Khan Sheikhoun in the province of Idlib where they monitored the funeral procession for yesterday’s victims. Regime forces shelled the funeral procession and the UN observers’ cars pushing them to escape, and causing the death of at least 28 civilians and the injury of dozens.

Regime forces continued to violate Annan’s peace plan, as they shelled the cities of Homs, Rastan and Qasir in the province of Homs, opened heavy fire in the city of Ezaz in the province of Aleppo, opened heavy fire and conducted arbitrary arrests in the city of Banyas in the province of Tartus, the villages of Kinda and Rwaisa in the province of Idlib, and the village of Marata where defections took place. Regime forces also opened heavy fire in the neighbourhood of Arbaeen in the city of Hama and the village of Tamana al-Ghab. Furthermore, they besieged and conducted arbitrary arrests in the village of Jibreen in the province of Hama

In the province of Daraa, regime forces shelled the city of Daraa, and opened heavy fire in towns of Inkhel and Tesil, and the border-town of Tal Shehab to prevent refugees and injured civilians from reaching Jordan. While in the province of Deir Azzour, regime forces opened random heavy fire in the town of Muhasan and the cities of Boukamal and Quriya and bombarded an oil pipeline by the city of Mayadin, which is a sign that the regime is preparing a media campaign to justify the future invasion of the province.

In the capital, regime forces opened heavy fire in the neighbourhoods of Nahar Aisha and Jobar, conducted arbitrary arrests and sweeps in the neighbourhoods of Rukn Eddin and Qabun, and arrested dozens of activists who held a sit-in in the central square of Najma. Regime forces also opened heavy fire in the suburbs of Douma and Daraya, raided the suburbs of Erbin, Jedaidet Artouz amid heavy fire, shelled the suburbs of Wadi Sabna, Wadi Durra, Rankous, and Zaydin, and conducted arbitrary arrests and sweeps in the suburbs of Kafarbatna and Moadamiya.

The Assad regime killed in total at least 75 today; 33 in the province of Idlib, eight in the province of Homs, and seven in the province of Deir Azzour.

Student demonstrations continued in the universities of Raqa and Aleppo. Regime forces opened fire to disperse the demonstrators and laid siege to many faculties.